To Build a Fire
General Info
Year: 1992
Duration: c. 17:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: TRN Music Publisher, Inc
Cost: Score and Parts - $100.00 | Score Only - $12.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II (doubling Alto Flute)
Oboe I-II (doubling English Horn)
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
Tenor Saxophone (doubling Soprano Saxophone)
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani (6)
Piano/Harp
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:
- Anvil
- Bass Drum
- Bell Tree
- Bongos
- Crash Cymbals
- Crotales
- Glockenspiel
- Gong (Tam-tam)
- Marimba
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tambourine
- Tenor Drum
- Tom-Toms
- Triangle
- Tubular Bells
- Vibraphone
- Wind Chimes
- Xylophone
Errata
- Oboe, m.30: The dotted half note should be an A-flat trilling to an A-natural.
- Bassoon I, m.210: The error is that the tie between mm. 209-210 changes octaves with the clef change. Prof. Camphouse would like the bassoon to read m. 209 as is & stay on E3 for beat one of m. 210, then go up to the higher E (E4) on beat two of 210.
- Contrabassoon, m.185: The note should be a D-natural. This affects the next several measures due to the ties.
- Percussion I: remove vibraphone from instrumentation list.
- Percussion I, m.90, beat 1: add "S.D."
Program Notes
To Build a Fire was sketched, composed and orchestrated during an eight month period: June 1990 - January 1991. Commissioned by The United States Army Band and dedicated to Conductor Emeritus Colonel Eugene W. Allen, To Build a Fire is a freely composed 17 minute quasi-tone poem -- a general impression of the Jack London short story. Since first reading the story as a high school student, Camphouse always wanted to create a musical setting of this stark, powerful and enduring American literary classic. To Build a Fire was premiered at the Kennedy Center on March 4, 1991, by The United States Army Band under the direction of Colonel Bryan Shelbourne. To Build a Fire was selected as the winning composition of the 1991 Fifteenth Annual National Band Association Composition Contest.
Program Note by composer
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
- Audio CD: University of New Hampshire Wind Symphony (Andrew Boysen, Jr, conductor)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Air Mobility Command March (2008)
- Anthem (2009)
- Canzon, Fugato, and Hymn (2004)
- A Dakota Rhapsody (2007)
- Declarations (1996/1997)
- Elegy (1989)
- Elegy, Prayer, and Hymn (2015)
- Essay (1992)
- Fantasia on "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair" (2005)
- First Essay for Symphonic Band. See: Essay
- Foundation (2007)
- Heartland Sketches (2009)
- Homage to the Dream (2013)
- Illuminations (2016/2018)
- In Memoriam (2002)
- La cathédrale résiliente (2019)
- Legacy for Brass and Percussion (2008)
- London Miniatures (1998)
- A Movement for Rosa (1992)
- Of Honor and Forgiveness (2023)
- Pacific Commemoration (1999)
- Prelude, Processional, and Postlude (2019)
- Reminiscences (2011)
- Resolutions (2017/2020)
- Romanza, from A Jack Stamp Suite (2017)
- Second Essay for Symphonic Band (2015)
- The Shining City (2011)
- Symphonic Fanfare (2006)
- Symphonic Prelude (The Cemetery at Colleville-Sur-Mer) (2006)
- Symphony from Ivy Green
- Three London Miniatures (1988)
- To Build a Fire (1992)
- Tribute (1985)
- Twin Ports Overture (2012/2013)
- Two American Canvases (2010)
- Watchman, Tell Us of the Night (1996)
- Whatsoever Things... (1997)
- Yosemite Autumn (1997/2004)
Resources
- Mark Camphouse website.
- Eckstein, Lisa C. "The Wind Band Music of Mark Camphouse: A Study of Twelve of His Musical Compositions, His Characteristic Sound, and the Inspiration Behind His Works." 2020. George Mason University, DMA dissertation.
- McCutchen, Mathew G. "An examination of the history and winning pieces of the National Band Association's composition contest: 1977-2008.". 2009. Florida State University, PhD dissertation.